Meth Lab Cleanup: All You Need To Know

Exposure to meth residue can pose many adverse health effects. Methamphetamine is packed with a plethora of toxic chemicals that can trigger skin rashes, chemical burns, vomiting, nausea, anxiety, and even depression. In more severe cases, direct exposure to high levels of meth residue can lead to chronic infections. These infections, if not treated right away, can be deadly.

In this article, we are going to discuss every crucial information you need to know about the chemicals contained in meth and how you can properly clean a house that has been exposed to meth.

Why is meth dangerous?

The main reason why meth is dangerous is because of the toxic substances and chemicals it contains. While the ingredients for making meth may vary, it’s inevitable that ingredients like acetone, phosphine, and pseudoephedrine will always be present. These chemicals pose the biggest threat to a person’s well-being as these can cause long-term and short-term health issues. 

If you’re moving your family to a new home and you have kids with you, it is best to inspect the new neighbourhood first. You see, children are at a higher risk of developing adverse health conditions after exposure to meth. If you’re moving into an area that’s near a meth lab, you might want to reconsider as the health conditions this lab can cause may scar your kids for life.

If there are warning signs, an inexpensive meth test can be purchased and used to determine if there is a positive result in a potential property purchase 

What dangers are associated with meth lab cleaning?

Before you start a meth lab cleaning mission, it’s crucial that you know what you’re getting yourself into. And by that, we mean you have to know what are the possible dangers you might encounter along the way. It is highly recommended that you hire professional cleaners to do the job. But even if somebody else is doing the cleaning, it’s essential to also know the dangers associated with a meth lab cleanup.

Aside from the toxic chemicals and substances that can pose a threat, the area is also highly susceptible to fire since volatile compounds are also employed in the meth manufacturing process. In fact, coming inside a meth lab to run a test can already pose a threat. You can ingest, inhale, or even come in direct skin contact with these harmful meth residues.

If the property that you just bought used to be a meth lab, you also need to be watchful of the traps which might have been left behind. The law enforcement authorities may have inspected the property in the past, but as they would put it, it’s better to err on the side of caution. There were incidences reported in the past where explosive devices like gasoline-infused light bulbs were used to protect the lab’s inventory and to keep intruders out of sight.

How to clean up a meth lab

The first thing to commence the cleanup is to ensure the property is safe to enter and has been cleared by relevant authorities. If it is safe, then a good place to start is by purchasing a meth testing kit. With this kit, you can use meth samples as low as 0.02 milligrams per 100 square cm. A meth test can be conducted in each room in order to determine which levels are contaminated and which areas are not. 

Step #1: Survey the property. 

Remember, that you should not enter the property unless it has been cleared by relevant authorities. This is one of the most crucial steps as this gives you the idea of the area’s level of contamination. With such knowledge, you can think of ways to effectively proceed with your cleanup plan. When you survey the area, you should use protective equipment like protective suits, steel toe boots, gloves, and protective glasses.

Step #2: Make sure to keep the building ventilated.

This step is also crucial, so you have to keep the negative air scrubber machine and blowers on to replace the air inside the contaminated space. Shut down all functioning HVAC system to keep the toxic particles from spreading. 

Step #3: Plan on how to approach the cleanup. 

This plan should be extensive enough to define the extent of cleaning work that should be done in the area. You also need to include the cost estimates and possible scenarios to execute the plan effectively.

Step #4: Move out all contaminated objects in the room.

Before you execute your cleanup plan, remove all the contaminated objects, including the carpets, from the room. You have to discard all of these to avoid the spreading of toxic particles again. Once all affected objects are moved out, ventilate the room for 24 hours or more.

Step #5: Vacuum the floors.

To thoroughly clean the area, make sure to use commercial-grade vacuum cleaners. Use one with specialised filters to be 100% sure. Also, you need to vacuum the walls before you wash them.

Step #6: First-level washing

After vacuuming the room thoroughly, start with the first-level wash. Only one rule should be followed in this stage -- reach all the areas of the room, even those that are not initially visible. Don’t use bleach when cleaning as this can react adversely with the toxic chemicals in meth. Instead, go for detergent water solutions.

Step #7: Second-level washing

Once you have reached and scrubbed every nook and cranny of the contaminated room, prepare for the second washing phase. Again, don’t use bleach when cleaning. Start from the ceiling and work your way to the floor. Through this method, you stop the contamination from re-spreading from the floor up. After each wash, rinse the area with clean water. Make sure to reclean hard surfaces, lighting fixtures, and exhaust vents several times. 

Step #8: Check your septic and plumbing systems.

Those who manufacture meth often pour the meth residue on their toilets and sinks. To make sure that your pipes and drains are not flammable, include septic and plumbing system inspection in the meth lab remediation process.

After cleaning everything that needs to be cleaned, check if you have satisfactorily met the local and state-set re-occupancy standards. If not, re-clean until you pass all the tests with flying colors. There may be no regulatory bodies requiring your property to be meth residue-safe, but if you think about the lives that can be saved, you can say the time and money you’ll invest in the clean up will all be worth it. 

Ways which NLR Can Help

• Meth Testing Inspections - We can provide an inspection with lab testing to confirm the presence of meth in the property. We can then determine the extent of the contamination and formulate a plan and quote for the remediation. 

• Meth Decontamination- Call us today for a quote for meth clean up. 

• Meth DIY Kit - We can provide a meth DIY kit for purchase so you can conduct the meth testing yourself.